January 2011

01/16/2011

McKim & Creed produced a wonderful video which is an excellent story of how 3D laser scanning can place AEC organizations at the forefront of technology in our industry. This piece is a great catalyst that will definitely give you a push, get those wheels turning, and get your thought processes rolling in the direction of implementing this exciting solution.

*Note to Everyone: I do not work for nor get any compensation from McKim & Creed so therefore I am posting this because I truly like this concept.

01/15/2011

Now that the term point cloud has been made a part of our every day language in the AEC world, we are starting to see scanner independent applications pop up on the virtual shelves... free and not so free.

One that I like in particular because it's FREE is PointCloud by kubit. This gives you some of the same basic functionality as software that comes with the scanner. Nice thing about this is that you can get a point cloud from a subcontractor running practically any type of scanning device and validate it in your own AutoCAD environment. With PointCloud, you can manage more than one point cloud in one drawing file, slice through a point cloud using any planar orientation, and create profiles by snapping to the pertinent points. You can control point cloud density and go from kubit to AutoCAD point cloud rather easily.

As you start building your momentum working with point clouds, you will want to upgrade to more sophisticated tools since point clouds can be collected rather quickly and the resulting product is a 3-dimensional representation of the subject within a few millimeters accuracy. Since I am on the subject, the next step in the kubit family is PointCloud Pro, not so free. With PointCloud Pro, you can run a clash detection of a proposed structure against existing in the point cloud. You can also use the high resolution photography picked up by the scanner to define some of the finer detail of the point cloud thereby making your resulting vector drawing more precise. By selecting areas or points on piping in the point cloud, you can generate cylinders, fittings, and pipe runs which could represent plant piping. And used inside AutoCAD Plant 3D, this tool will make you one of the greatest super heroes of all time.

For more information on kubit and to become involved in their beta program, email info@kubitusa.com.

01/12/2011

Training and standards integration is a large part of implementing Civil 3D. My past experiences have proven that no matter how good your instructor is and no matter how spot-on your Civil 3D template is, you could be heading to the edge of a cliff overlooking a rocky desert. You could either take that step, take the plunge, and end up splattered all over the dry, barren, hot, and silent bottom. Or else you could traverse to the next oasis.

You could call on a guide. That guide may take one of two actions:

He could tell you that you went down the wrong path and you'll have to turn around, double back, and start over.

He could tell you that for a wad of cash, he'll take you down the right path.

How frustrating... Wouldn't it have been easier just to have left home with a road map?

If you are travelling through the wilderness and have no idea where you are going or how you will get there, you will probably get lost and could possibly parish. Common sense tells you that this would not be a smart move.

How does this translate to Civil 3D? Workflow documentation. Every project you take on after training will not be identical to the one in your training manual. As a matter of fact, you will more than likely take on particular types of tasks on particular types of projects. It's important for you and your team that these types of tasks/projects are identified prior implementation.

Workflow documentation can be instructional or semi-automated.

The easiest type of workflow to develop would be step-by-step instructions for project tasks. These, of course, need to be documented. And it is better if this documentation is web-based. Web-based documentation can be supported with video as well as screen captures and audio narration. It also provides a single resource for updating and appending.

Another option is semi-automated workflow. This would involve customization. Using an interface such as the Tool Palettes, you can store macros in tools on a Tool Palette tab that execute a collection of commands/actions. Or you could create dialog boxes with buttons and lists which would simplify the interface for the user. Although this may seem like the process is being dumbed down, the process is also expedited.

A combination of both is the best. Working in an environment that displays the documented workflow allowing you to work your way down a task list while tracking your progress and providing links to relevant commands not only further educates and reinforces the fundamentals picked up in training, but it goes further in ensuring that the correct steps were followed for the task. This sounds like a lot of work but in the end it is well worth it.

There is a solution offered from the Eagle Point Pinnacle series called "Task Navigator" which does what I just described. If you want to take a quick look, follow the link:

01/03/2011

A flared end section is a transition. The trick is to force Part Builder to generate the resulting projection lines in the correct locations.

Create the circular profile with four arcs with endpoints coinciding at the quadrants of the resulting circle.

Create the rectangular profile with eight segments; the endpoints of the segments will be at the corners of the resulting rectangle and midpoints of each side.

After the proper constraints and dimensions have been applied and custom profiles have been created, apply a transition between the two resulting profiles. BUT in order to ensure that the projection lines are drawn from and to the correct points of the profiles, select the profiles in similar locations: